THE FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST PETER, APOSTLE - 22 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

 Saints celebrated on the 22nd of February

THE FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST PETER, APOSTLE 

⬅️ Feasts, Solemnities, and Liturgical Seasons

This Feast has been kept at Rome since the fourth century, as a symbol of the unity of the Church.

PRAYER:

All-powerful Father,

you have built your Church

on the rock of Saint Peter’s confession of faith.

May nothing divide or weaken

our unity in faith and love.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

*****

THE SOLEMN FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST PETER

(Homily by St Augustine, Bishop)

The solemn feast of today was called St Peter’s Chair by our forefathers, because it is said that on this day Peter, first of the Apostles, took possession of his episcopal chair. Rightly, therefore, do the churches honour the feast of that Chair, which the Apostle accepted for the salvation of the churches, as the Lord said: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

"UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILT MY CHURCH"

Therefore, the Lord named Peter the foundation of the Church; and it is, therefore, right that the Church should honour this foundation, upon which the lofty structure of the ecclesiastical edifice is built. The Psalm which has been read, says very suitably: “Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the chair of the ancients.” Blessed be God who has commanded the blessed Apostle Peter to be exalted in the Church; for it is just that we should honour in the Church this foundation, by which it rises to heaven.

IT IS JUST THAT WE SHOULD HONOUR IN THE CHURCH THIS FOUNDATION, BY WHICH IT RISES TO HEAVEN

In keeping today the feast of this Chair, we honour the office and the priesthood. Individual churches pay to one another this tribute of mutual respect, for the more the priestly office is honoured, the more the dignity of the Church is enhanced. Since religious observance has introduced this feast into the life of the Church, I wonder why some infidels of today are sunk so deep in error, that they place food and wine upon the tombs of the dead, as though souls which have departed from the body were in need of bodily refreshment.

(From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964)